Dating A Lachenal From The Serial Number

[Matthew Heumann]

Juris: Thanks for spotting that, I'm not sure I paid any attention to the fact it was before 1889.

From Stephen Chamber's history of Lachenal: "Lachenal’s also introduced a new, raised-ended, twelve-sided ‘artistic’ concertina, which they named the ‘Edeophone’, the Registered Design for which (RD 129662) was entered on 27th July 1889" So, I'm guessing mine wasn't 1876 afterall.......next guess?

[wes williams]

10 hours ago, juris said:

Hello Wes, I thought the Edeophone was only introduced around 1890. Is 1876 a typographical error? Sincerely, Juris

Yes, sorry - I looked at the wrong table. 35875 is estimated as circa 1897. I've updated the original.

[wes williams]

Uploaded twice - post deleted!

Edited August 26, 2024 by wes williams

[Paul_Hardy]

Can you give me a date for Lachenal English 51487 please? I guess somewhere around 1910?

 

It's the one at https://bid.horners.co.uk/past-auctions/srho10189/lot-details/f9429369-b836-4998-814a-b1cd00d499e8.

 

It's externally damaged  (corner and fretwork), but internally fine and untouched. Steel reeds. 

[wes williams]

51487 is estimated as c.1910. So only the case is Wheatstone LOL!

[Paul_Hardy]

11 hours ago, wes williams said:

51487 is estimated as c.1910. So only the case is Wheatstone LOL!

 

Thanks. Yes, the condition of the case was a red herring. Photos and description of the tina are at https://pghardy.net/concertina/lachenal_51487/lachenal_51487.html. What Lachenal model number would this be, with ebonised wood ends but moulded edges, steel reeds and nickel silver keys?

[wes williams]

Looks like a No.10 Excelsior. See ~1905 pricelist here

[Paul_Hardy]

1 hour ago, wes williams said:

Looks like a No.10 Excelsior. See ~1905 pricelist here

I thought Excelsior's had nickel decorative corner inlays, like https://pghardy.net/concertina/lachenal_58748/lachenal.html ?

 

Or was that just later ones?

[Don Taylor]

I would like to get a current estimate of the date of manufacture of a 55B New Model Crane, #389.

 

(Sorry about the upside down images, I can't seem to correct this).

 

Don.

Edited September 13, 2024 by Don Taylor

[wes williams]

Don - We estimate Crane 389 as circa 1903.

[Dean Olsher]

Hello, I'm brand new here and this is my first post. I would like to figure out when my 55-button Lachenal McCann duet was made (and while I have you, if anyone has ideas about resale value). Serial number is 1124. I had some work done on it in 2022. Bob Snope at the Button Box in Massachusetts replaced the pads and valves, cleaned and leveled the buttons, shimmed the gaskets, and touched up the tuning. Thanks for your help, Dean

[wes williams]

Hi Dean, Welcome!

We would estimate your Maccann 1124 as circa 1893.

[BrendanOC]

Hi there! I'm in the process of restoring an eBay find that I'm almost certain is a Lachenal, but I'd just like to offer the serial number and some of my reasoning in case anyone is able to confirm or deny.

 

It's a rosewood-ended 28-button C/G which looks almost identical to a Lachenal 30-button rosewood C/G concertina that I own (and whose provenance is beyond doubt - purchased recently from Barleycorn, serial number 169922, which I believe is c. 1899 or 1900?). It's missing its maker's label and the hand rests, which extend further downwards than on my 30-button, have no 'steel reeds' text or trademark engraved.

 

From reading through this thread I reckon that - if it is indeed a Lachenal - the serial number 16456 puts it around 1871, and something I read elsewhere on the site indicates that the hand rest trademark engravings only appeared towards the end of the 1870s. Is that correct?

 

'L L' on the reed pans seems like a big clue to Louis Lachenal, but I'm taking nothing for granted! [EDIT: duh, I'm a fool - of course this is the left-hand reed pan, whereas the right-hand reed pan is marked R R') The bellows are green leather and (judging by the discolouring of the bellows paper) could be original, although they're surprisingly airtight so perhaps not; pads and bushes look original and are in bad shape - though the concertina is playable. The reeds were all in the neighbourhood of 'old', presumably original tuning, though I've brought them down to A=440Hz. All reed shoes have note names stamped on them.

 

The only other marking is an ink stamp by R. Whitten of Bermondsey. Depending on whether Whitten was a retailer, a pawnbroker or a repairer (or all of the above), does the presence of a stamp make it likely that repair work has been done? Or did some retailers do this as a matter of course?

 

Anyway, that's a tangent. Here are some photos - thanks in advance for any clarification folks can offer!

 

Brendan

Edited September 23, 2024 by BrendanOC
Correction to info

[wes williams]

Answers to various questions, Brendan:

1. We estimate 169922 as c.1901

2. We estimate 16456 as c.1870

3. hand rest trademark engravings appeared sometime 1873 or later.

4. The 'L's on the reed pan are the usual Lachenal marks for left. Perhaps the other end shows 'R'?

5. R. Whitten of Bermondsey was believed to be a second hand instrument dealer in approx 1930s.

[BrendanOC]

Cheers wes - I just realised how silly I'd been with the 'L L' and went back to correct my original post. (I figured this out last week when I first opened the concertina, then promptly forgot by last night...)

And thanks for the date estimates!

[wes williams]

3. ... and after checking, the reed shoe trademark was registered in 1878

[Mike Acott]

Hello,can you give an idea of a brass reeded treble no 13826

Many thanks .

Mike

[wes williams]

Mike - 13826 is estimated as c.1868.